Obesity remains a serious health problem and it is no secret that many people want to lose weight. Behavioral economists typically argue that “nudges” help individuals with various decisionmaking flaws to live longer, healthier, and better lives. In an article in the new issue of Regulation, Michael L. Marlow discusses how nudging by government differs from nudging by markets, and explains why market nudging is the more promising avenue for helping citizens to lose weight.

Armed with a computer model in 1935, one could probably have written the exact same story on California drought as appears today in the Washington Post some 80 years ago, prompted by the very similar outlier temperatures of 1934 and 2014.

Two long wars, chronic deficits, the financial crisis, the costly drug war, the growth of executive power under Presidents Bush and Obama, and the revelations about NSA abuses, have given rise to a growing libertarian movement in our country – with a greater focus on individual liberty and less government power. David Boaz’s newly released The Libertarian Mind is a comprehensive guide to the history, philosophy, and growth of the libertarian movement, with incisive analyses of today’s most pressing issues and policies.

What Economists Think about Immigration

Immigration reform will increase economic growth and productivity in the United States — but not uniformly. Most Americans and immigrants will reap rewards, while others could face increased competition in the labor market. Ethan Lewis will discuss how lower-skilled immigrant workers affect the labor market decisions of similarly skilled Americans. Madeline Zavodny will delve into the economic impact of highly skilled immigrants and how business cycles affect immigrant flows. Michael Clemens will assess the global economic impact of immigration reform and the enormous economic potential of removing most immigration restrictions.